A review of the Vax H90-GA-B Gator Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

A Top Quality Vacuum at a Great Price!

Vax H90-GA-B Gator Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

Vax H90-GA-B Gator Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

Vax H90-GA-B Gator Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

For those looking to vacuum small messes on a budget, the Vax Gator Handheld could be for you. For small easy vacuuming like clearing up crumbs, ashes or stray hairs, this 100 Watt vacuum is capable. It’s lightweight too and easy to manoeuvre at just 1.2kg.

With a battery life of under 10 minutes, this cordless vacuum cleaner is for small, fast jobs that don’t require a larger machine and with the built-in crevice tool, you can even use it for tricky places like car seats. In fact, having this as a dedicated car vacuum isn’t a bad idea, especially as it’s so small and compact.

Key Points:

1.2kg

Runtime: between 7 and 12 minutes

Charge time: 24 hours

8v 100w

Flip mouth for easy emptying

While this Vax H90-GA-B Gator vacuum isn’t going to win any design awards, it simply does what it says it’ll do. It’s not powerful enough to remove hair tangled into carpets and stairways but it’s good at removing crumbs and loose hairs from cars and sofas. For the price, it’s a useful little tool.

Although the run time is short, it’s actually not very different from more expensive handheld vacuums. This is mostly because the higher quality handhelds have more powerful suctions, requiring more battery power while this one will use less power. For small messes though, the 7-12 minute run time is just fine.

Hygienic Dust Collection Disposal

With a drop down ‘alligator-like’ mouth, the disposal is fairly hygienic and you shouldn’t need to get your hands dirty. This is useful especially as the dirt compartment is very small at just 0.2 litres.

The precision tool is retractable for easy storage but not particularly long when you want to get into corners. With brush attachments, this isn’t good for delicate areas like desks and bookshelves but it works well on chairs and sofas. Loose pet hair can be picked up by the Vax Gator with easy, for pet hair embedded in fabrics and carpets however, a different method needs to be used.

For a budget machine, the lightness and ease of use is a pro but the lack of quality suction power might be more of an annoyance. This is really only for very easy messes – great if you’ve got small children who lie to eat in the car!

Pros – A Lightweight Cordless Vacuum

The handle is comfortable although the weight distribution is far forward, meaning that you’ll need to use more wrist effort to manoeuvre it around. Still, at just over a kilogram, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem for the majority of people. For those looking at very undemanding handhelds, the Black and Decker flexi is a great compromise – affordable although not budget, but is very easy on the arm and wrist muscles and good for the elderly.

The charging cable is thin and needs taking care of when not in use to prevent damage. Similar to a phone charging cable, it adds to the feeling of cheapness that comes with this overall package but again, you get what you pay for.

Cons – Long charging time

The major problem with this vacuum is that the charging time is a whopping 24 hours. That’s pretty over the top considering the usage time is around or under ten minutes. Because this kind of vacuum is good for cars, it means you’d have to remove it from your car often and then charge it for a full 24 hours – making it not particularly fit for purpose. Depending on how often you’d envisage using it, this could be a deal breaker.

Overall

While not particularly powerful on the suction side of things, this is an good vacuum cleaner for those who just like to tidy their cars up a quickly here and there, especially if pets and messy children and frequent passengers. The long charge time might be a problem but if you won’t use it often then it could be overlooked.

AEG AG6106WDT Lithium Wet and Dry

This low to mid range cordless handheld vacuum cleaner from AEG is capable of cleaning up wet and dry messes without damaging the internals of the machine. It’s small and lightweight with a crevice tool inbuilt and has a run time of up to 14 minutes.

Key Points:

Wet and dry capabilities

Weighs 1 kilogram

Run time: up to 14 minutes

Two speeds

7.2 volts

Small wheels near mouth for smooth surfaces

A fairly basic looking handheld vacuum cleaner, this actually has a little more going for it that looks suggest. With the ability to suck up wet and dry spills, this vacuum means you don’t have to worry about internal corrosion. The wheels are small and soft, allowing you to run the AEG Lithium Wet and Dry vacuum over soft and hard surfaces without leaving marks or scratches.

The charge stand is small and practical, offering many angles for the vacuum to sit at. This means it can even be wall mounted. With a Turbo function, a crevice tool and a LED charge light, this has all the small functions you need and the suction power is reasonable. Good for small spills of loose debris and even wet debris, this is a good kitchen and car vacuum cleaner for those who don’t want to waste time.

BLACK+DECKER Cyclonic Action Dustbuster vacuum – 9.6v

Not only will this precision handheld vacuum cleaner pick up small spills, hair and dirt from around the home and car, it’ll also make you feel a little like a Ghostbuster. Light and easy to handle, no more do you need to get the big vacuum out for small, short jobs. Save yourself time and invest in this mid-range handheld from Black and Decker.

For those times when you’ve spilt crumbs but don’t want to drag out the large corded vacuum cleaner, this will save you time and effort. It’s not the most powerful vacuum in the world, but it’s only designed for small, fast chores like spilt food and clearing up small messes in your home and car.

The charging base is neat and keeps the vacuum cleaner tidy when charging. With a run time of around 11 minutes, it doesn’t last as long as some others including the Dyson DC34 or DC58s but is comparable to budget options.

Comfortable to hold, it’s not as light as many other handhelds but it’s still easy to move around. The translucent dust container makes it easy to see when it needs emptying and the integrated brush tool is useful for more delicate areas.

Black and Decker rarely make a duff machine and this Lithium Flexi vacuum cleaner is a great piece of equipment, especially for those with a family pet. Lightweight, handheld and very easy to use, the Black and Decker Flexi is suitable for all homes and can be effectively used it hard-to-reach places including cars, ceilings and nooks.

Black and Decker Lithimum Flexi Vacuum Cleaner

While stored, the Flexi is foldable around on itself, making it small and neat to keep in a cupboard or out of the way on its charge stand. With a lithium ion battery, the weight is significantly reduced, making it a good handheld vacuum for everyone, including the elderly.

The key attribute of the Flexi is the flexi suction hose that can use several different attachments. With a pet hair tool, a crevice tool and others, this one small handheld vacuum is capable of removing any hair, debris, dust and fibres from carpets, cars and ceilings.

Quiet yet powerful, just like the Dyson range, this Black and Decker has a hygienic disposal function that’s button operated and won’t leave you with dusty hands or clothes. The only downside? Vacuuming with this Flexi is a two-handed operation.

The Black and Decker Flexi with Pet Hair Tool has a 4 foot flexible hose that folds into itself for easy and clever storage. It’s this hose that makes the machine so highly usable with the ability to clean stairs, skirting boarding and high up shelves and corners.

The pet hair brush is specifically designed to work stubborn hairs from the carpet where they can easily become tangled and embedded. Thanks to the Flexi’s power and design, hairs are quickly removed without much effort and high-tread areas are back to the bright carpet you once knew and loved.

Lightweight, easy to wield

Like other handheld vacuums, the main purpose of the Black and Decker Flexi is to provide a lightweight vacuum for hard-to-reach areas and for quick jobs. Why go to the trouble of lugging your huge, carpet vacuum cleaner all the way upstairs just for a small patch? The flexi is extremely lightweight and the add-on tools are easy and fast to attach.

With its three-stage filtration system, the Black and Decker Flexi stops captured dust from escaping the machine and its cyclonic action keeps the filter working efficiently. Considering it’s less than half the price of the latest Dyson DC model, this handheld from Black and Decker is extremely good value for money and has amazing results.

Suction isn’t too bad in this Flexi model and it has 25 Air Watts which means impressive suction power. It’s not has aesthetically pleasing as the funky looking Dyson versions but it’s incredibly useful thanks in part to the flexible hose.

Tools and attachments

Not a one trick pony, this Black and Decker Flexi with Pet Hair Tool comes with a range of attachments for you to clean every aspect of your home and car. The crevice tool is long and think for sneaky areas like down the backs of sofas and car seats as well as ceiling corners while the 2-in-1 nozzle and brush head is highly effective for small and large mess. The pet hair tool teases animal hair quickly from where it’s embedded from the carpet and soon your dog won’t even realise he’s been there before.

Eco charging

While it takes four hours to charge, compared to the Dyson DC58’s three hours, the Black and Decker Flex has an eco function that switches the charger off when the machine is fully charged. This means you can leave it charging happily without having to remember to switch it off.

Downsides / Cons

The only real downsides of this is that the filter has been known to breakdown after a while and isn’t replaceable. The suction power isn’t as good as many larger, floor models or the Dyson handhelds and those coming from those machines may be disappointed.

With the battery life lasting 10-20 minutes depending on age of the machine, this is comparable to other similar models but as the suction isn’t quite as good as the Dyson DC range, it won’t be as effective overall.

Overall, this handheld is lightweight and fairly powerful and is ideal for those who want a small machine for quick and awkward jobs, especially those who have pets that malt. Even with attachments this is easy to store and while it may not have quite the same brute power as a comparable Dyson, this is a bargain for the price.

Black and Decker Lithium Compact Pivot Vacuum, 18v

An odd looking handheld vacuum, this Black and Decker Lithium Compact Pivot Vacuumis an exercise is design gone mad. But, actually, it’s quite good. The cornerstone of the Lithium Compact Pivot Vacuum is its unique, patented nozzle that is manoeuvrable in itself. This makes it highly adept and getting into all those hard-to-reach places like the top of high shelves, lampshades, sofa creases, car areas and other tough spots.

Black&Decker Pivot Vacuum

Compact Storage

Although it looks like small animal, this Black and Decker hasn’t compromised on power and suction to create this lightweight, cordless model. In fact, the suction is actually very good for the size. The pivoting nozzle folds neatly down for storage, creating a compact machine that’s easy to whip out at a moment’s notice when something is spilled.

The dust hatch is opened without your hands getting dirty and you can empty it quickly and wash or shake out the removable filter. With 35 Air Watts, this is also a pretty powerful machine and the suction is excellent for the price. Well designed and thoroughly eye-catching, this is probably Black and Decker’s best handheld and a true rival to the Dyson empire. See all the reviews here

The overall design of this Black and Decker Lithium Compact Pivot 18v Vacuum cleaner is really interesting and very practical. A one-handed design, this is more efficient and easier to use than the Black and Decker Flexi model and the 200° pivot nozzle allows you to get into, on top of and under any awkward object.

Lightweight and comfortable to use

The usability of this machine is further increased by the lightweight and comfortable design. Balanced perfectly as to not strain or tire your arm, this light machine uses a lithium ion battery to reduce the weight more. Because the nozzle pivots, you don’t need to more your arm into awkward positions to get to the dirt and dust and this means that it’s a great tool for everyone, including the elderly.

Designed for small to medium light jobs, this is great for loose pet hair, crumbs and dry spills but doesn’t have the power for embedded hair or tough dirt in carpets. It makes a good car vacuum cleaner for the times you need a quick tidy up before your mother-in-law is a passenger and is ideal for those last minute clean ups before guests arrive at home.

The translucent dust collector enables you to see when to empty it and with a 0.44 litre capacity, that’s not necessarily every time you use it. For hygienic emptying, simply open the side door and tip the contents into the bin. The filter is removable and washable and if cleaned regularly, this should last a long time.

Included Tools and Attachments

An integrated crevice tools means nooks and corners aren’t off limits to this Black and Decker pivot vacuum cleaner and it can easily get down the creases of sofas and car seats. Without a brush attachment, delicate areas like full shelves aren’t going to be easy to vacuum but this is really a tool for soft furnishings and cars.

The charger is very useful with an auto shutoff feature that turns itself off after the vacuum is fully charged. Charging takes around four hours and the machine has about a 10 minute run time. This is fairly typical for this type of handheld but it’s still short compared to the new Dyson DC58 which runs for 20 minutes and has greater power and suction.

The Black and Decker Pivot Vac is a mid-range handheld that’s designed for small, loose spills and quick clean ups. It charges fairly fast and folds up neatly. For those who don’t want to spend too much on a handheld, this Black and Decker is one of the best in the range and it looks pretty cool too.

Dirt Devil HandiMate Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

This Dirt Devil HandiMate Handheld Vacuum Cleaner is a true budget option from Dirt Devil and while it isn’t going to work any magic on your floors and surfaces, it will happily pick up crumbs, spilt dry foods and loose hair. Quick and light, grabbing this from the cupboard to clean up a tiny mess saves so much time compared to battling with the large upright vacuum.

The key to making the most of this compact handheld vacuum is to not expect too much from it. It’s main purpose is to save you time when it comes to crumbs and dry food spills as you can grab this and not have to use the main vacuum cleaner.

Not powerful enough to suck up embedded pet hair or other dirt, this is good for a quick clean up around the kitchen floor or the car seats. The dust disposal hatch can leave you with dusty hands, making it unsuitable for those with allergies and the charging lead is fragile and cheap. BUT; this is one of the cheapest cordless vacuums out there, and for minor spills it does work.

With a run time of up to 14 minutes (but around 10 in reality), you can keep this in you car for quick clean ups without having to take it out for recharge too often. It’s very light at under a kilogram and is easily manoeuvrable for young and old alike.

Dyson DC34 Multi Floor

Although superseded by the DC58, this Dyson handheld vacuum cleaner is still a fantastic machine and is now a total bargain. With amazing suction, fast and hygienic dust disposal and 15 minutes of run time, the Dyson DC34 Multi Floor is a proud homeowner’s best friend, saving you time one every small spill.

Dyson DC34

Dyson DC34

Dyson DC34

Key Points:

Run time: 15 minutes

Charge time: 3.5 hours

Weighs 1.3kg

Twice more suction than any other handheld on the market (except the DC58)

The Dyson DC34 doesn’t cut any corners when it comes to design specifications and it’s simply a fantastic piece of innovation and machinery. It’s a bargain for those who want the quality and suction of a Dyson but don’t want to pay huge amounts, as it’s now been superseded by the DC58, knocking down its price.

Designed for short, small jobs, this is excellent for stairs, high-tread areas like entryways and for cleaning up the car. It’s capable of removing embedded hair and fibres with ease from carpets and sofas as well as the finest dust particles, making it suitable for households with allergy sufferers.

If you want to save yourself time every day, this is the perfect vacuuming tool. It’s lightweight, exceptionally well balanced in the hand and works quickly and effectively. No more dragging out the main upright vacuum for little jobs when you’re short on time.

Dyson DC58 Animal Handheld Vacuum Review

Dyson’s newest handheld vacuum cleaner is leaps and bounds ahead of the previous model with a 20 minute run time, a boost suction button that allows for super-powerful cleaning for up to 6 minutes and durable Lithium ion battery.

Dyson DC58

Dyson

The Dyson DC58 Animal Handheld has a hygienic emptying function too, just a button that allows the dust and debris to fall directly into the bin – no more dusty hands trying to take it apart!

With stiff bristles on the vacuum foot, hard-to-remove fibres like pet hairs are forced out of carpets and sucked up with ease. This ensures that the new DC58 Animal is an excellent tool for those areas of the house and car where dirt, dust and hair is often walked into the carpet such as entryways and footwells.

Lightweight and ergonomic, this Dyson DC58 has a comfortable handle that makes it easy to manoeuvre for young and old alike. With a range of add-on tools for crevice vacuuming and tougher spots, this is an all-round excellent vacuum that will make the place look spick and span when you’ve only got ten minutes until the dinner guests turn up.

Neat, clever and no unattractive, the new Dyson DC58 Animal Handheld is designed within an inch of its life. No part of this highly practical household appliance is excessive nor are there any sections that haven’t been perfectly though through. It’s easy to see when you first pick it up, that the weight distribution and handle comfort has been one of the primary design specs because there’s no hint of awkwardness.

Ergonomic Design

The handle allows you to control everything without having to move your hand. Not only is the power button there, the hygienic waste dump button is too. Meaning this is really a one handed job. Despite the controls on the ergonomic handle, the DC58 Animal is designed so you don’t accidentally press something you don’t want it. It’s pure, easy and surprising simple.

The primary vacuuming section, where it touches the surface or carpet, is a motorised bar with nylon bristles to force hair, fibres, dust and dirt up out of the carpet. Amazing effective, you’ll never find yourself needing to go over the same spot twice and you’ll be amazed at how easily debris is eradicated.

Thanks to these stiff bristles, high-tread areas like stairs, entryways and cars no longer have to always have that slightly dingy, trampled look. The DC58 will draw out the hair, dust and dirt with immense cleaning power.

Dyson DC58 is the Most Powerful Handheld Vacuum

The motor in the DC58 handheld is where Dyson really comes into its own. The Digital V6 motor spins over 100,000 times a minute and is 3x faster than normal vacuum motors. This is at the heart of why the DC range is so powerful and so effective. Even the finest dust particles are captured and removed thanks to the 15 cyclones in 2 tiers, leaving your home and car cleaner than you even thought possible.

With 28 Air Watts on normal setting, this is already a highly powerful machine but with the addition of the Boost setting (which lasts for 6 minutes), you can benefit from 100 Air Watts! This means even the most stubborn areas will look good as new again.

Longer life than predecessors

The biggest complaint with the DC58 Animal’s predecessors was the battery life and although this range is designed to be used for short tasks, Dyson certainly listened. Completely re-engineering the battery, this new DC58 Animal now has a life span of 20 minutes or 17 minutes if you’re using the motorised tool with it. This is a huge difference and really makes the DC58 worth having in your home.

Tools and Attachments

Whether it’s animal hair, car footwell dirt, cobwebs or just plain old household debris, the DC58 Handheld can cope with it. With a range of attachments included, it has everything you need for a fast clean up. The crevice tool slots on easily to enable corners, skirting boards and the fiddly bits in cars to be as clean as new, while the mini motorised tool provides instant eradication of animal hairs, even those trampled deep into the carpet. The wide nozzle tool speeds everything up and there’s no job that this DC58 can’t do.

Easier cleaning equals cleaner home

It’s easy to put off vacuuming when there’s only a small bit that needs to be done and the vacuum cleaner needs digging out from the show cupboard. Who can be bothered when you need to find a plug socket, pull the vacuum around to the dirty area and then put it all away again afterwards? No one – the DC58 is your new best friend.

Super small and super lightweight at just 1.6kg, the DC58 is highly effective and powerful for short jobs. With the one-button hygienic bin emptying function, you don’t need to put off empty the machine because it takes a split second and won’t make your clothes dusty.

With a run time of 20 minutes, this is hands down one of the best small handheld vacuum cleaners on the market today and this new DC58 model even has an LED battery indicator so you know how long you’ve got.

Dyson puts technology, usability and customer experience at the forefront of their designs, and thisDyson DC58 Animal Handheld really is worth the price. You get what you pay for, and here you’re paying for gold.

Hoover Jovis Turbo Power Nozzle Bagless 12v Vacuum Cleaner – Handheld

A lightweight, cordless vacuum cleaner from Hoover, this Jovis Turbo Power is a handheld compact cleaner that’s especially adept at picking up pet hair. Small and comfortable to hold, it has a good run time for it’s type and requires only one-handed operation. Save yourself time by using a small, handheld vacuum for life’s little spills.

The Hoover Jovis Turbo is an affordable handheld vacuum cleaner with enough power on the Turbo setting to get rid of stubborn, embedded hairs and dirt. With a HEPA filtration system, it’s designed to pick up even the finest dust particles making it suitable for households with allergies.

Designed for short bursts of cleaning, the runtime of 17 minutes is really good for this size of vacuum and its peers across other brands often have shorter run times with the exception of the Dyson DC58. While the run time is good, the charge time is very long at 16 hours.

Bagless and comfortable to hold, this is an easy vacuum to use and it’s longer runtime makes it good as a car vacuum cleaner than you can keep in the boot for clean up crises. The dust disposal function isn’t as fluid and hygienic as some other brands like Dyson and Black and Decker, but it’s not too clunky and is quick to empty.

The wall mounted charging base keeps this Hoover out of the way and an LED light shows battery charge. Overall, it’s an excellent budget option.

Ryobi CHV182M ONE+ Cordless Hand Vac, 18v

Nicely designed and capable of cleaning both wet and dry spills, the Ryobi One+ Cordless vacuum is a great budget machine. Not clunky or particularly cheap feeling, this is a basic vacuum that’s particularly useful as a car cleaner or for quick jobs around the house and will save you time.

With a rubberised grip handle and a great colour scheme, this Ryobi One+ is the ideal handheld cordless vacuum for those who like to keep their car tidy and give their home last minute cleans. The suction power is suitable for loose crumbs and hair and it manages to capture fine dust particles as well.

The drawback of this hand vacuum cleaner is that you need to buy the batteries and charger separately…and it only accepts Ryobi batteries. This s a good option if you already own Ryobi tools and can use the battery packs interchangeably. If you don’t, the price will soon add up and you may be better off investing in a different product such as the Black and Decker handheld range.

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